The We-Sell Property Company is approached by Trust-Us Developers who offer to buy 6 acres
of We-Sell's prime downtown real estate. Trust-Us explains that they have plans to build
"Downtown Center," a beautiful complex of high-end retail and commercial tenants.

Trust-Us offers We-Sell $3,000,000.00 for the land on the following terms: $500,000.00 cash
and seller carry back a Deed of Trust of $2,500,000.00. This Deed of Trust will, of course,
have to be subordinated to a construction deed of trust for approximately $20,000,000.00.
Trust-Us tells We-Sell the completed project will be worth "a fortune" and, the construction
lender will monitor the construction.

We-Sell agrees to these terms on the following conditions: -Construction loan may not
exceed $20,000,000.00 -Interest rate may not exceed Prime +2% -All construction loan funds
must be used solely for the development of this project and are to be controlled by the
construction lender.

A deed of trust in favor of We-Sell is executed by Trust-Us and a rider is attached which
sets forth the automatic subordination provision and its conditions.

Shortly thereafter, Trust-Us finds construction financing with Security-Lend Finance Company.
The construction loan is negotiated for a first deed of trust of $18,000,000.00 at Prime Rate
+2% interest. Security-Lend sends its deed of trust to the title company and requests an ALTA
Loan policy showing its lien in first position based on the automatic subordination provision
in the We-Sell deed of trust.

The title officer reviews the We-Sell deed of trust and sees that the amount of construction
financing and interest rate comply with the conditions set forth in the rider. The title
officer however requires that We-Sell execute a standard CLTA form Subordination Agreement.
We-Sell agrees and signs the CLTA form but adds language that the subordination is conditioned
upon all construction funds being used solely for development of the "Downtown Center" project
and that the construction lender will control disbursements.

The title officer rejected the document stating that he will insure only if an unaltered CLTA
form Subordination is used. We-Sell complies, the transaction closes and the construction
lender funds the entire loan amount to Trust-Us.

After three months, no work has begun on the project and We-Sell tries to contact Trust-Us.
Their telephone has been disconnected and it appears that they have disappeared with all of
the construction funds.

We-Sell receives a Notice of Default from Security-Lend Finance Company and immediately
retains an attorney to file an action to enjoin Security-Lend's foreclosure. We-Sell
claims that the subordination is invalid because all of its conditions that were set out in
the rider attached to their deed of trust were not met. We-Sell argues that its conditions
to subordination contained on the rider put Security-Lend "on notice" of those conditions,
depriving Security-Lend from their first priority position as the title company had insured.

Security-Lend tenders its defense to the title company, who is pleased to see that their
title officer required an unaltered CLTA form subordination agreement.

In litigation, with the title insurer defending Security-Lend, it is ultimately determined
that the subordination language in the CLTA subordination form clearly provides that it
supersedes all prior agreements regarding subordination of the deed of trust. Security-Lend
is in first position as it intended and as it was insured.

*The statements made on this web page and any page that follows within the Fidelity National Title website are not intended, and shall not be construed to expressly or impliedly issue or deliver any form of written guaranty, affirmation, indemnification, or certification of any fact, insurance coverage or conclusion of law.

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